A Cultural History of Theatre in the Age of Enlightenment

French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote, ''the general effect of the theatre is to strengthen the national character to augment the national inclinations, and to give a new energy to all the passions''. During the Enlightenment, the advancement of radical ideas along with the emergence of the bourgeois class contributed to a renewed interest in theatre''s efficacy, informed by philosophy yet on behalf of politics. While the 18th century saw a growing desire to define the unique and specific features of a nation''s drama, and audiences demanded more realistic portrayals of humanity, theatre is also implicated in this age of revolutions. A Cultural History of Theatre in the Age of Enlightenment examines these intersections, informed by the writings of key 18th-century philosophers. Richly illustrated with 45 images, the ten chapters each take a different theme as their focus: institutional frameworks; social functions; sexuality and gender; the environment of theatre; circulation; interpretations; communities of production; repertoire and genres; technologies of performance; and knowledge transmission.>

Product details

• Authors: Mechele Leon, Mechele (Associate Professor and Chair of th Leon
• Assisted by: Mechele Leon (Editor), Mechele (Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre Leon (Editor)
• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2019
• EAN: 9781472585752
• ISBN: 978-1-4725-8575-2
• No. of pages: 288
• Series: Cultural Histories; The Cultural Histories Series
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Theatre, ballet; HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Archaeology, PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / General, Theatre Studies, c 1500 onwards to present day, Archaeology, Social and cultural history, History and Archaeology, Modern Period, C 1500 Onwards